Friday, August 17, 2012

DOL Reports 21% of American Workers Take Time Off Every Week

Yesterday, the federal Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics released its first ever study of the use of paid and unpaid leave by American Workers.  It found that 21% of the workforce took an average of 15.6 hours of leave each week and another 50% adjusted their work schedules or location.  The remaining 13% were apparently part-time or newly employed and not eligible for time time.   Among other things, the BLS reported that:
In 2011, 90 percent of wage and salary workers had access to paid or unpaid leave at their main jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-one percent of wage and salary workers took paid or unpaid leave during an average week. Workers who took leave during an average week took an average of 15.6 hours of leave. Fifty-six percent of wage and salary workers were able to adjust their work schedules or location instead of taking leave or because they did not have access to leave in 2011. Seven percent of workers made such an adjustment in an average week.
Interesting, n'est pas?  Do you plan on having 21% of your workforce being absent for two days each week?

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